Wandering from worship: What churches are doing to hold on to the next generation

Comments

I'd say most young people want to see a just world, and they're happy
to work toward that.

What they don't want is to be handed a
script saying who they are (invariably, "sinner") and told to read their
lines in order to gain "salvation." Their idea of God is "outside
the box."

More and more older people feel the same way. They
want to discover God from the inside out (the God who resides in their own
spirit), not have a packaged God handed to them from the outside in.
That's why so many people now identify themselves as "spiritual but not
religious."

Going on a "faith journey" does not mean you
have to be part of an organized religion. It can happen one by one, in your own
being. And it will probably be more effective than just saying yoru lines.
Because you now own your faith.

LValfreCHICAGO, IL

March 26, 2012 3:06 p.m.

'@A voice of reason"So many people are so into what they think is
right that very few ever take the time to try to find it or learn if there is
truth to be known.""

How do you not see that you yourself do
this same thing?

atl134Salt Lake City, UT

March 26, 2012 2:03 p.m.

@A voice of reason"So many people are so into what they think is right
that very few ever take the time to try to find it or learn if there is truth to
be known."

That works both ways though. There's people who
reject religion without ever considering it, and there's people who accept
a certain religion without ever considering alternative viewpoints. There are
people who think that just because someone else arrived at a different answer
than you must mean that they weren't thinking straight, or weren't
sincere, or any sort of other thing.

LValfreCHICAGO, IL

March 26, 2012 8:16 a.m.

@VoR,

"People would rather be eager to push for what they've
already decided (which hardly was a thoughtful decision, rather indoctrinated
from the moral systems of Hollywood, gaming industry, or whatever else they are
connected to. I once was the same way to a degree."

So the next
generation is indoctrinated by games, Hollywood, and media. What were you
indoctrinated by?

Y Ask YProvo, UT

March 25, 2012 2:52 p.m.

VoR,

You just proved my point.

1aggieSALT LAKE CITY, UT

March 25, 2012 1:11 p.m.

When most of the strife in the world is not caused by religious intolerance;
when people stop "killing in the name of..." then more people may turn
to organized religion.

MormoncowboyProvo, Ut

March 25, 2012 1:10 p.m.

The article seems to be missing a fundamental point. Rather than analyzing the
“youth” group to find out why they don’t go to Church, it
would be helpful to just ask them. It also seems to be operating under a
Universalist assumption that people should belong to “a” Church,
without discussions of “which” Church. This is very odd reporting
for a Mormon newspaper whose religious founder too “kept [himself]
aloof” from religion for a time. Why isn’t religion selling anymore?
Because it doesn’t have value!

Hank PymSLC, UT

March 25, 2012 12:20 p.m.

per Full-on double rainbow 6:41 p.m. March 24, 2012

Churches IMO are
all about blind obedience & conformity. What teenager or anyone for that
matter finds solace in repressive conditions?

per DrAnnBlakeTracy
7:47 p.m. March 24, 2012

The Doctor is onto something about not being
able to feel God. I stopped going because of what I felt (listed above) &
that all the weekly "traditional duties" were hollow & repetitious.

Full-on double rainbowBluffdale, UT

March 24, 2012 8:15 p.m.

@DrAnnBlakeTracy

I'm not sure why you have an ax to grind
againts antidepressants. I have seen them help many people. Do they work for
everyone? No. Are there risks and side effects? Of course. The prescriber and
patient should decide if the benefits outweigh the risks. I disagree with your
assertion. Do you really think an all powerful God is powerless againts
antidepressants?

DrAnnBlakeTracyHenderson, NV

March 24, 2012 7:47 p.m.

Since the early 90's I have watched many leave their religions because they
report that they can "no longer FEEL God." The reason for that inability
to feel God is something most would not suspect. It is their prescription
medication - an antidepressant. These drugs are designed to block feelings of
depression, etc. but they cannot single out good feelings from bad feelings.
According to patients the anesthetic effect of these antidepressants block all
feeling, except anger which they increase. But leaving one's religion is an
extremely common thing that I have witnessed in working with those having
adverse reactions to the medications.

Full-on double rainbowBluffdale, UT

March 24, 2012 6:41 p.m.

When you think you have the answers to all of life's problems its easy to
come off sounding condesending. No one wants to be patronized no matter how
reasonable you think you are.

A voice of ReasonSalt Lake City, UT

March 24, 2012 4:40 p.m.

Y Ask Y,

"what kind of youth would want to have any sort of
conversation with someone like" me?

Although I think your comment
is inappropriate in its meaning, I would at least request you give a rational
statement, a claim of some kind, or an argument. The only real claim I made is
that being too 'connected' and unwilling to take time to disconnect
once in awhile- produces a mentality where self-reflection, intellectual
thought, and other such necessary human traits cannot exist or be developed.

If that means you don't want to talk to me, then don't- saying
nothing is respectful while making a point to state that you wouldn't want
to talk to me is a direct insult. I'm not offended, but again- such a
statement is inappropriate.

Furthermore I don't need validation
from others, especially others I don't even know. The Book of Mormon
actually mentions people who wanted validation, favor, and endorsement from
others- and where it led them. It's a fascinating examination of where such
attitudes lead people through life. I'd take a gander at it- just a
friendly suggestion.

TruthseekerSLO, CA

March 24, 2012 4:21 p.m.

One thing that will not persuade the youth to hold onto religion is inserting
religion into politics, religion demonizing those who are different and engaging
in a war about contraceptives while denouncing abortion.

Involving
the youth in real charitable activities, exhibiting and promoting the gospel of
love, charity, non-judgementalism and tolerance can bring them closer to God.

Ultra BobCottonwood Heights, UT

March 24, 2012 3:22 p.m.

I think the problem for religion is education. Somewhere in high school a
person starts to use the tools of learning he’s been given and starts
applying the rules and tests on real live. Most things work out ok but religion
falls short in the proving of it’s fantastic stories and beliefs.

Coupled with the unpleasant torture of growing up in a radical
religionist family where the prayers were long and repetitious and were never
answered, religion struck out before it got up to bat.

I think that
only by preventing public education in general will religions be able to
continue. As people become more knowledgeable about the world and our existence
they wont need religion.

Y Ask YProvo, UT

March 24, 2012 3:15 p.m.

Voice of Reason,

Go back and read your own comments.

Now
tell me what kind of youth would want to have any sort of conversation with
someone like that?

I, for one, would not.

A voice of ReasonSalt Lake City, UT

March 24, 2012 2:27 p.m.

I can't agree more with this quotation-

"Today's youth
are awash in technology that promotes global connectedness and the sharing of
ideas but deepens individual alienation. Young adults are increasingly skeptical
of authority and institutions yet eager to make a difference"

In
order to think clearly, we have to disconnect sometimes. So many people are so
into what they think is right that very few ever take the time to try to find it
or learn if there is truth to be known. People would rather be eager to push for
what they've already decided (which hardly was a thoughtful decision,
rather indoctrinated from the moral systems of Hollywood, gaming industry, or
whatever else they are connected to. I once was the same way to a degree.
Self-reflection and patience is lost to so many. People would rather criticize
the Book of Mormon without reading it with a hope of possibility, prod at others
without equal consideration, and so on.

I'm not trying to get at
the Book of Mormon bit so much as the fact that so many younger persons worship
the ipad/xbox/social-media above legitimate discourse, thoughtfulness, and
meditation.

Rita52ANN ARBOR, MI

March 23, 2012 8:44 p.m.

As I read this article, the first thing I thought was "What took you so
long?" The second was "Thanks for paying attention." Mainstream
churches have been bleeding youth for years, all the while gyrating themselves
into knots trying to "entertain" them into the faith. Young people want
honesty, respect and integration into the spiritual life of their faith.
Finally, the churches, whose doctrines and theology are seldom the problem with
most youth, are treating young people with dignity, not dog and pony shows. Give
them pure doctrine, a definite knowledge of and access to their Savior, and a
meaningful responsibility in the congregation and more of them will stay. Wow
(insert head smack here)! Who woulda thought!